The 16710 represents the final chapter of the GMT-Master II's five-digit era, bridging nearly two decades of production from 1989 to 2007. This 1996 example wears the classic black bezel configuration, a purposeful tool watch aesthetic that defined the reference throughout its remarkable run. Introduced as the successor to the 16760, the 16710 refined the GMT-Master II formula into its most enduring form, becoming the daily companion of pilots, travelers, and collectors who valued substance over flash. The glossy black dial and matching bezel create a coherent, no-nonsense design language that remains as relevant today as it was nearly three decades ago.

The forty-millimeter stainless steel case houses the caliber 3185, a workhorse GMT movement featuring an independently adjustable hour hand that allows quick time zone changes without disrupting the running seconds or twenty-four-hour hand. The forty-eight-hour power reserve provides practical autonomy, while the quickset date mechanism adds convenience for frequent travelers. Protected by a sapphire crystal and rated to one hundred meters of water resistance, the case construction reflects Rolex's commitment to tool watch functionality. The bidirectional rotating bezel with its engraved twenty-four-hour graduations serves as both a timing instrument and visual anchor for the design.

Mounted on its stainless steel Oyster bracelet, this GMT-Master II achieves the perfect balance of presence and discretion at forty millimeters. The black dial configuration offers versatility that more colorful bezels cannot match, equally appropriate for the boardroom and the departure gate. The 16710 stands as the last GMT-Master II before the ceramic bezel era, a distinction that continues to elevate its status among those who recognize evolutionary significance.